The Loose Tooth and Ordinary Time

I have been thinking about Jesus’ life on earth and trying to get my head wrapped around what his life

might have been like? Jesus’ human nature and his divine nature can be seen throughout scripture. But I have been wanting more of what I can relate to. God incarnate. My mind’s exercise has led me on a

versatile journey. Like any human being who has lived on the face of the earth, Jesus would have gotten

sick with a cold, stubbed a toe, received a cut on the hand, had an itch or felt sick to his stomach. Even a bug bite. Bona fide assurance, Jesus would have experienced these things. And what of a loose tooth, or a tooth ache? We know his baby teeth came out, and his adult teeth came in! That awkward gosling to goose phase on the face of a child when the front teeth are missing. Jesus had all that! The toothless smile. His father and mother may have been amused as he had to work around what to eat and what not to eat. Biting into something would have taken a second thought during those six to seven-year-old years! And there would also have been the growing out of clothes. Getting ready for the back-to-school year! I can only imagine how much excitement he would have felt for the coming of High Holy Days in autumn, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. And even in the everyday joys in his daily life’s rhythms. The smell of dinner cooking. For Jesus and his family there would be the weekly Sabbath taking. The slowing down and putting all things related to work aside. He would have noticed the seasonal temperatures changing. Feeling hot and feeling cold to then layer up and move closer to the fire. I am sure that Jesus had to deal with plenty of smoke and dirt. Dirt on the sandals, dirt on the hands and in the nostrils, dirt on the hem of his robe and dirt in the house. Sneezing and coughing? A life without sidewalks. All gracious gifts of perfumed oils and nards would have been welcomed. Scripture tells us that he did.

Mark 14:3 and John 12:3 These items were poured on his head and his feet. The aroma would have

filled the air of the room. Jesus knew what it felt like to be given a gift. His appreciation was genuine.

“She has done a great thing for me.” Jesus saw her and her deed has become immortalized.

Jesus lived his life in community and his days were spent with plenty of walking. He surely would have

gotten in his “STEPS” for the day! From Nazareth to Capernaum and along the shores of the Sea of

Galilee, Jesus would have kept pace with his friends and at times, walk along ahead, or stop for a needed rest. He could become weary and in need of water and food. Don’t we all?

As far as his palate, we know Jesus would eat bread, fish and figs. He liked figs so much, so he was distressed to find no fruit on a fig tree when he was hungry. I can relate to this appreciation of figs! Here at the close of summer, I was more than delighted to find plenty of ripe figs on the fruit trees in my parents’ backyard, my childhood home. I gathered the ripe fruit in my hands and reached for the one low hanging avocado on the tree nearby that was easy to pick. I would have been disappointed if I had

found nothing! The harvesting of fruit is very rewarding.

And I wonder if Jesus sang to himself. Had he a favorite song or instrument? In the gospel of Mark, Jesus and the disciples walk up the Mount of Olives, singing songs as they go. The Songs of David, perhaps a song of Ascent. I can imagine hearing their voices. Would Jesus have been a tenor or bass?

The human Jesus. For those skeptics who say he wasn’t divine, his humanity is a treasure to those of us who believe. We have heard of the miracles, celebrated the empty tomb, seen and sang the chorus of angels. We get the Divine because that is why we believe and are born again to a new hope. And Jesus incarnate every day is perhaps less tangible and apparent in detail in scripture. Height and stature, eye color and hair color. Details that do not really matter. But seeing Jesus on the face of everyone we meet in an ordinary day and the connection we all make as human beings is wonderful. All our five senses. I rejoice in the humanity of the Lord Jesus! One that I can relate to, even in a sneeze. God bless you!

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